Flat-opening loose-leaf ledger.



Patented Dec. l6, I902.

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

fia 7 INVENTOHI, fi/fC'f/ouy/ifon a. F c. HO UGHTON. FLAT OPENING LOOSE LEAF LEOGEB.

(Appheation filed Feb 27' 1902) No. 7l6,232. 1 Patented Dec. 16,1902.

- a. F. c. HDUGHTDN.

(Application filed Feb. 27, 1902.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N0 Model.)

INVENTOR 1F NOFRIS PETER) cc, wommm. wasummo o. c

placed at will.

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GEORGE F. (l. HOUGHTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLAT-OPENING LOOSE-LEAF LEDGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,232, dated December 16, 1902.

Application filed February 27. 1902. serial No. 96,016. (No model.)

to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in loose-leaf flat-opening books, and while especially designed for ledger use it is evident that the construction may be employed in other relations where it is desired to bind or hold together loose book-leaves in such a manner that they may be removed and re- The same construction may be employed in filing letters or other papers.

than in Fig. 1.

-zontal section taken partly on the line y y,

Fig. 3, the parts being shown on a larger scale In this view the lids of the book are not sectionized. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line a; m, Fig. 2, still further enlarged. Fig. lis a section taken through the book when closed and locked. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the U-shaped brace or staple employed when the book is open. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the extremity of the locking-rod which receives the key. Fig.

7 is a similar View of the key employed in locking and unlocking the construction.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let 5 and 5 respectively designate two casing parts, to which the lids 6 of the book are attached in any suitable manner. The back of the book is composed of two telescoping parts 7 and 7, which are respectively hinged to the casing parts, as shown at 8. The part 7 is a plate which slides freely in the part 7, the latter being double or composed of two separated plates, forming an opening for the purpose. The part 7 is provided with slots 7, through which pass pins '7 securedto the part 7. This construction prevents the two parts from being entirely separated as the one is drawn out of the other.

The casing parts Sand 5 form two chambers adjacent the inner edges of the lids, in which chambers are respectively located two rods 9, each of which is supported at one extremity by a guide 10 and at the opposite extremity by a pin 12, which is secured to the casing extremity and telescopes in the end of the rod, the latter being hollow for the purpose. Each rod extremity engaged by the pin 12 is provided. with a shoulder 9, which bears against one extremity of a coil-spring 15, interposed between the said shoulder and the end of the casing. The opposite extremity of the rod is slotted, as shown at 9 to receive a key 14. (See Fig. 7.) By the use of this key a limited longitudinal movement is imparted to the rod against the spring, engaging its opposite extremity, as aforesaid. Each rod 9, as shown in the drawings, is provided with two pins 9". Extending from the outside of the casing 5 and passing through the casingchamber are two posts 16, whose lower extremities are rigidly secured to the outer wall of the casing, while from the inner wall of the casing 5 project two sleeves 17 ,adapted to receive the posts 16 of the casing 5 when the book is closed. (See Fig. 4.) The outer or free extremities of the posts 16 are notched, as shown at 16, to receive the pins 9 of the locking-rod 9 when the book is closed, the said pins being normally held in engagement with the notches of the posts by the spring 15. To unlock the closed book, it is only necessary to insert the key 14 in the slotted end 9 of the locking-rod 9 and press the same toward the spring 15 until the pins 9 are disengaged from the notches or recesses in the ends of the posts 16. The rod is then turned to throw the pins 9 out of the path of the notches in the ends of the posts, after which ICO the key may be removed and the rod released. The book may then be opened by first pulling the casing parts outwardly until the posts 16 are disengaged from the sleeves 17. the lids is then thrown over to occupy the same horizontal plane as the other lid. The book is then in the position shown in Fig. 1, with the posts 16 and the sleeves 17 occupying vertical positions. The casing parts are then moved toward each other until the parts 7 and 7 forming the telescoping back are in the closed position. (See Fig. 2.) The U- shaped braces or staples 18 are then applied to the posts 16 and the sleeves 17. Each brace is provided with a reduced part 18 and a tubular part 18. The part 18" is adapted to enter the sleeves 17 and is provided with a notch or recess 18 in its lower extremity, adapted to receive a pin 9 of the locking-rod 9. The tubular part 18 of the brace is adapted to slip over a post 16, its lower ex tremity being notched, as shown at 18 to receive a pin 9 of the locking-rod 9. When these braces are in position, the key 14 is used the turn the rods 9 to bring their pins 9 into line with recesses 18 and 18 of the brace. As soon as the rods are released from pressure the springs 15 force the pins 9 into the recesses of the braces, and the latter are securely locked in place. The leaves 19 of the book, which are provided with openings for the purpose, are then all on one side, being held in place by the sleeves 17. These leaves may then be turned to the opposite side by running them over the braces 18 to the position shown at the left of Fig. 3. The leaves are thus securely held in place against removal except by a person holding the key 14. The braces also, hold the telescoping parts of the back of the book in the closed position. To close the book, the operation just described is repeated in the reverse order. The leaves 19 are first all run over the braces to the position on the sleeves 17 The braces 18 are then unlocked and removed, the book extended, and the lids folded to bring the posts 16 in line with the sleeves 17, after which the telescoping back is closed, inserting the posts in the sleeves. (See Fig. 4.) One of the locking-rods is then manipulated to cause its pins 9 to engage the recesses in the extremities of the posts 16.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is- 1. In a book of the class described, the combination of two casing parts, an extensible back to which said parts are hinged, cooperating posts and sleeves connected with the casing parts, and a locking device inclosed by a casing part and adapted to engage the posts which protrude into the chamber of said casing part.

2. In a book, the combination of two lidholding parts, locking devices located in one of said parts, cooperating posts and sleeves mounted in the said parts, the posts being arranged to protrude into the casing part con- One of.

taining the locking devices which engage the posts and lock the book in the closed position.

3. In a book, the combination of two lidholding parts, a telescoping back whose parts are hinged to the lid-holding parts, locking devices located in one of the lid-holding parts, and cooperating posts and sleeves mounted on the respective lid-holding parts, the posts being engaged by the locking devices to lock the book closed.

4. In abook, the combination of two lidholding parts, a telescoping back whose parts are hinged to the lid-holding parts, locking devices located in one of the lid-holding parts, and cooperating devices mounted on the respective lid-holding parts, one set of said devices adapted to enter the lid-holding part and engage the lock-ing devices located therein.

5. In a book, the combination of two lidholding parts, a rod located in one of said parts and longitudinally movable therein, said rod being provided with locking-pins, sleeves mounted on the lid-holding part containing the said rod, post-s mounted on the other lid-holding part and adapted to pass through the sleeves and enter the lid-holding part containing the locking-rod, the said parts having notches or recesses to be engaged by the pins of the locking-rod.

6. In a book, the combination of two lidholding parts, a spring-held longitudinallymovable locking-rod located inone of said parts and accessible to be operated by a key, said rod having locking-pins, sleeves mounted on one of the lid-holding parts, posts mounted on the other part, the posts and sleeves cooperating when the book is closed, the posts being arranged to enter the lid-holding part containing the locking-rod, and being provided with recesses to engage the pins of the said rod.

7. In a book, the combination of two lidholding parts hinged to the back, posts and sleeves mounted on therespective lid-holding parts, locking devices located in said parts, and U-shaped braces cooperating with the posts and sleeves and entering the lid-holding parts where they are engaged by the looking devices, substantially as described.

8. In a book, the combination of two lidholding parts hinged to the back, posts and sleeves mounted on the respective lid-holding parts, spring held longitudinally movable locking-rods located in said parts and provided with pins, and U-shaped braces coop- I crating with the posts and sleeves and entering the lid-holding parts, one arm of each brace being adapted to enter a sleeve of a lidholding part, and the other arm of the brace being tubular to receive a post of the other lid-holding part, the arms of the U-shaped braces, projecting into the lid-holding parts and being provided with notches or recesses adapted to receive the pins of the lockingrods, substantially as described.

9. In abook,the combination of a back composed of two members slidable on each other,

two lid-holding parts respectively hinged to the members of the back, a post applied to one lid-holding part, a sleeve. applied to the other lid-holding part and adapted to receive the post when the book is closed, and a U -shaped brace applied to the post and sleeve I when the book is open.

10. Inabookfthe combination ofabaek eom- I posed of two members slidable on each other, two lid-holding parts respectively hinged to the members of the back, a post applied to one lid-holding part, a sleeve applied to the other lid-holding part and adapted to receive the post when the book is closed, a U-shaped brace applied to the post and sleeve when the 15 book is open, and suitable means for locking the brace in place when so applied.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE F. C. HOUGHTON.

Witnesses:

M. H. MERNEL, FRANK J. BURNS. 

